Jewish Religion

U.C. to debate anti- Semitism’s definition

By Ben Cohen/JNS.org WASHINGTON, D.C. (JNS.org)– On Sept. 17, the Regents of the 10-school University of California (UC) system will discuss a statement of principles against intolerance. Alarmed by a rash of anti-Semitic incidents on UC campuses, a large number of Jewish scholars and activists have urged that the Regents adopt, in the context of their […]

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, Science, Medicine, & Education

Secular Israelis to hear the sound of the shofar

By Anav Silverman JERUSALEM (Tazpit)–This year, the call of the shofar will be made accessible to thousands of Israelis, many of whom have never previously heard the blast of the shofar traditionally sounded on Rosh Hashanah in the synagogue. After 15 years of expanding Yom Kippur programs to 295 locations across the country, Tzohar, the

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Jewish spirituality was focus of Yom Limmud

By Eileen Wingard LA JOLLA, California — Yom Limmud lived up to its name once more as some 400 participants, including Jewish educators and lay people, gathered to imbibe a day of Jewish learning on Sunday, August 30 at the Lawrence Family JCC. Jewish religion, culture and nationhood encompass such a vast spectrum, that it is difficult to include sessions

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Eileen Wingard, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education

When God and humankind are lovers

By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel CHULA VISTA, California — Rosh Hashanah is almost here! According to Jewish mystical tradition, Elul is a period of spiritual awakening. The name of Elul is an acrostic for:   אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי   “I belong to my beloved and my beloved belongs to me …” (Song of Songs 6:3). Hence, the time of

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Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi

Jewish news briefs: August 26, 2015

Vatican demands removal from Palestinian flag bid at U.N.(BreakingIsraelNews.com/JNS.org) Despite its recognition of a “State of Palestine,” the Vatican has requested it be removed from a Palestinian-prepared United Nations General Assembly draft resolution that calls for the flags of “Palestine” and the Holy See to be flown at U.N. headquarters in New York City. The

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Censorship in the haredi community

Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History by Marc B. Shapiro, Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, Portland, Oregon; ISBN 978-1-904113-60-7 ©2015, $19.95, p. 285, plus bibliography and index By Fred Reiss, Ed.D.   WINCHESTER, California — Changing the Immutable by Marc B. Shapiro, who holds the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies at

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Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish Religion

Chabad of La Costa celebrates ‘floor of the present’

By Donald H. Harrison CARLSBAD, California – Chabad of La Costa on Sunday, Aug. 23, celebrated the completion of what its spiritual leader,  Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort,  called the “floor of the present” containing an 88-seat sanctuary, offices, a small library,  and a kosher kitchen. Already roughly constructed, but needing such important finishing touches as an

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Yeruchem Eilfort-Rabbi